If you’re looking for a bargain portable induction hob, IKEA has just the thing

IKEA Tillreda Portable Induction Hob: was £80 now £80 at IKEA

Available in two sizes, the Tillreda is a brilliant budget buy. I've tested the dual-ring £80 model, but made comparisons to the smaller one so you can pick the perfect one for you.

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Having tested countless induction hobs as a food editor and formerly as a professional chef, I know how the quality of a hob can impact not just cooking results but also the overall experience. I was keen to see how IKEA's budget-friendly Tillreda would perform.

The Tillreda range at IKEA is designed for compact kitchens, offering affordable and space-saving appliances. Among these, the Tillreda portable induction hob stands out, available in two models: one with a single cooking zone and another with two. I've tested it and awarded it a spot in our buying guide for the best portable induction hobs based on the fact that it's the one I've ended up buying to use at home.

Despite lacking the power boost settings found on more premium models, it delivered consistent, even cooking, making it a great value option for home cooks. While it may not have the speed of more powerful hobs, the Tillreda is versatile enough for most everyday cooking tasks. It’s perfect for compact kitchens, campervans, or as an extra hob for outdoor cooking.

IKEA Tillreda Portable Induction Hob review: Specifications

Unboxing the IKEA Tillreda Portable Induction Hob

Delivery from IKEA costs £5 or is free for members of the Ikea Family (the Ikea loyalty club is free to join). Delivery time varies depending on stock. If you need it in a hurry, it’s also possible to reserve online and collect or buy directly from your local IKEA (you can check on the website if it's in stock in your local shop). There is also an option to collect from a mobile pick-up point where collection the following day is possible.

I opted for delivery. The packaging consisted of a compact cardboard box and foam packaging designed to protect the hob. The box is recyclable, but the packing foam is not. If you don’t want to dispose of the packaging at home, IKEA offer a free disposal service in store, or rapid unpackers can hand back the unwanted packaging to the delivery driver (they will wait for 5 minutes).

The box would easily fit into an Ikea bag if you're collecting. The box may also be handy for storing or transporting the hob as it's economically sized.

The hob has a two-year guarantee and IKEA offers a generous 365 day return policy should you change your mind. Although some reviews on the IKEA website complain about the hob breaking, most are positive. It feels sturdy and durable, so depending on usage and care, we expect it to last well, but a two-year guarantee is a good insurance should it break.

Despite coming from the shop famous for flatpack, thankfully, no assembly is required. You can simply plug it in and start cooking. I found it very easy to set up and intuitive to use without instruction, but it also comes with a manual, if you need a helping hand.

Who would the IKEA Tillreda Portable Induction Hob suit?

This induction hob would be most suited to use in a domestic setting and for taking on trips. Although I wouldn't advise replacing your built-in hob, it's a useful addition or good for those who don't use a hob daily or are looking for a temporary or compact solution. Although not the most powerful model on the market, it’s competitively priced, and the attractive, minimalistic design would appeal to the style-conscious.

If you need an occasional additional hob in the kitchen, the TILLREDA is a good option as it's a practical size for storing in a cupboard. The lead is also longer than others I tested; the cord is 40cm long, which offers flexibility depending on where your sockets are situated. It would also suit students or be ideal for kitting out a kitchenette or cooking alfresco.

Portability is the main selling point for this hob. For trips, the TILLREDA induction hob is light and compact, the two-hob model weighs 4.2kg, and can easily be transported. If you don’t require the double burner, then the single hob model is even smaller and lighter, and has a hook that you may find useful for hanging the hob to store it. The larger model has a cable tie, which is helpful for neatly packing the power cord. The powerful fan means the base of the hob doesn’t heat up, therefore it is possible to use it on most hard surfaces (not carpet, cloth or paper).

If you are on the lookout for an induction hob for content creation, the minimal design is attractive and would look good in videos, but be mindful that it's very reflective. However, when operating, it makes a whirring noise, so it’s not ideal if you are recording the audio.

I would advise a more sturdy and powerful model for a professional catering business or heavy use.

What is the IKEA Tillreda Portable Induction Hob like to use?

The Tillreda portable induction hob from IKEA is very easy to use. On the left of the display is a power, pause and lock button. On the right, the power control for each hob is denoted with a small diagram. The controls range from ‘1’ to ‘9’. The front hob is more powerful than the back and goes from 200W to 2000W. The back hob starts at 100W and goes up to 1500W. However, the max power when both hobs are in use is 2800W, so it isn’t possible to have both hobs at max power simultaneously. This was adequate for occasional use, but may be irritating if using regularly.

As this is an induction hob, only cookware suitable for induction cooking will work. The minimum recommended pan size is 12cm and the max pan size is 20cm. It’s worth checking that your pans will work before investing in this hob. Some pans will naturally work on induction hobs, this article explains what pans cannot be used on induction hobs. Or you could invest in new induction pans, all of which also work on electric and gas hobs.

I found it self-explanatory to use, but IKEA provided a manual explaining the functions. The buttons are touch-controlled and responsive. When turned on, the red LED display is easy to read. After plugging in the hob, the lock is automatically engaged. To unlock the hob to start cooking, you just need to press the lock button for three seconds.

After 30 seconds of inactivity, the LED display automatically turns off. But an ‘H’ is displayed until the hob has cooled down. I thought this was a useful power-saving feature.

When hob beeps when the pan is removed or the pan is not compatible. It also displays an icon when a pan is not an induction pan.

When both hobs are on full power, the fan is loud, with the volume reading 65 dB. However, as soon as the hob is turned off, the noise stops, which is a nice relief!

There is no timer function built into the hob. I didn't find this an issue as I usually set a timer on my phone. However, many other models have this feature, so it's worth factoring in to your decision making process.

Test 1: Bringing water to the boil

To test the hob's power, I timed how long it took to bring one litre of water to a rapid boil. I know that the max power of the Tillereda model is 2800w. Unlike many built-in induction hobs, this portable version has no boost setting. Instead, I used the highest setting which is 9.

The speed at which water boils also depends on the size and efficiency of the pan, so on every hob we tested, I used the same pan with the lid off.

The Ikea Tillreda induction hob was efficient, but not super fast. One litre of water took 3 minutes 20 seconds to come to a rapid boil. The hob stayed on consistently during the heating time. The fan was on consistently. The fan is loud but effective at keeping the unit cool.

Test 2: Simmering chocolate or sauce

I made a chocolate sauce to test the lowest setting and assess how well the hob holds a low, steady temperature to keep sauces warm or melt delicate ingredients such as chocolate or butter. If a chocolate sauce gets too hot, it will split and burn, so the temperature must stay low.

I put 50g of dark chocolate and 50g of semi-skimmed milk in a pan and set the hob to its lowest temperature. The chocolate melted slowly and, with a little mixing, became a smooth sauce. I then left the sauce for 10 minutes, and the low, constant temperature kept the sauce warm without burning the chocolate. It was a successful test as other models I tested caused the sauce to split.

Test 3: Cooking pancakes

To test the distribution of heat, I made pancakes. As the pancake batter browns, it reveals any hot spots in the pan. To make sure it wasn’t the fault of the pan, I used high-quality Le Creuset stainless steel pan and rotated it between pancakes. I also did a trial run on our fitted hob in which the pancake browned evenly.

Generally, the results were good. The Ikea Tillreda induction hob heated the pan rapidly and was responsive when the heat was reduced. I tested both the back and front hobs at a medium temperature.

I first heated the pan before swirling in the pancake batter. I returned the pan to a medium heat and cooked the pancakes until the edges began to curl away. I made sure to centre the pan (as best I could) in the cooking area. At this point on the front hob I noticed that the top left was browning more rapidly than the rest. This was a consistent tendency as I repeated the test. However, it was a small inconsistency that you would barely notice if not paying meticulous attention. In general, I felt the induction hob’s heat transfer was very good and I was happy with the even browning on the pancakes.

Portability and storage

The compact and light design makes this hob easy to move and store.

The larger two-ring model dimensions are:

Depth: 520mm

Width: 280mm

Height: 62mm

The weight is 4.2kg

The Tillreda induction hob would easily fit in a kitchen cupboard sideways. However, it was too long to fit in my cupboard lengthways, because the cable extends a couple of centimetres beyond the end and can not be removed. The hob requires a space that's 54cm long to store it. If you are travelling, the box can easily fit in a car's boot.

The power cord is a generous length, it’s 140cm long. A cable tie is included so you can neatly tie up the cable. The smaller model also has a metal hook for hanging the hob up. If you have a compact kitchen, this would be a useful way of storing the hob for quick access. We have spotted it displayed this way in IKEA setups.

The box is useful for storing or transporting as it comes with padded packaging that would protect the hob's surface during transit.

Cleaning

The Ikea Tillreda induction hob is a single sheet of glass that is completely flat and easy to clean. As it has a high gloss finish, I find cleaning it after every use necessary, as even pressing the buttons leaves greasy marks. I also noticed dark rings from the pans appeared after cooking. When the hob had cooled down, I wiped it with a sponge before using a cloth to polish the surface to eradicate streaks. It cleaned well and soon looked like new.

There is a grate along the side of the hob for the air outlet. It’s unlikely that you would get this part messy when cooking, but if you splatter food on the sides, they could be more of a fiddle to clean. For this reason, I would also advise against drenching the top in cleaning solution as it may seep down the sides into the machine. The manual suggests using a glass ceramic hob cleaner for more stubborn stains.

How does the IKEA Tillreda Portable Induction Hob compare?

The VonShef Dual Induction Hob is a model that retails for a similar price and has the same max power and wattage. I preferred the Ikea Tillreda as I found it simpler and more enjoyable to use. It was also quiter and the simple design means it was less of a fiddle to clean.

There are two size versions of the Ikea Tillreda. If you are looking for a single hob I suggest buying the smaller model as it’s easier to store and has a hook and is also cheaper. The larger model is very similar, but offers two cooking zones. So if you need more space it’s worth the upgrade.

Should you buy the IKEA Tillreda Portable Induction Hob?

Choosing this model depends on your budget and requirements. For a cheap portable induction hob, this is fantastic quality. It comes with a long warranty and an extended returns period. It’s lightweight and very easy to move and store. It looks attractive, and the minimal design means it is simple to clean. The fan is loud, but this is usually the case with portable induction hobs. I enjoyed using it as it was simple to master and easy to use. The hobs are responsive, heat quickly and cook evenly; it was even good on a low temperature. However, if you are looking for a powerful induction hob that will heat faster, there are more expensive options available.

How we test

At woman&home, we like to test every portable induction hob that we recommend to you. It's important that our tests cover the versatility and everyday use cases for the hob, but we also need consistency across the board so that we can compare between different models.

All of our portable induction hob reviews are carried out by experts, namely the woman&home food team. That's because the portable induction hobs get a lot of use on a whole range of recipes. They're also the experts when it comes to cooking and they'll pick up on nuances that other people might take longer to notice.

We have a whole page dedicated to how we test portable induction hobs, but if you want a mini tour of what we test, we have three core tasks. The first is boiling water, where we use water from the tap at 22C and the same pan with the lid off. We set the hobs to the highest setting and then time how long it takes for water to boil. This is really a power test. Next, we will simmer sauce or melt chocolate to test the induction hob's ability to be gentle. For the Tillreda, we made chocolate sauce from 50g of dark chocolate and 50g cold milk, at the lowest setting. The last test is pancakes, because this will show us how evenly heat is distributed across the pan from the portable induction hob. They're simple, but very telling tests.

You'll spot that we also talk about cleaning, packaging, value for money, and we'll offer up comparisons too. That way, you'll get a really clear idea of what the portable induction hob is like to use and whether it's the perfect one for you.